Gainesville Junior High

Junior High GAINESVILLE

Mrs. Krista Beal is in her 2nd year as campus Principal at GJHS. Beal is passionate about improving the literacy of all students and encouraging their academic growth in all areas.

“I do not believe that you can find more dedicated, knowledgeable, and compassionate educators than we have here in Gainesville ISD,” Beal said.

The secondary focus on Career and Technology Education (CTE) begins at Gaineville Junior High. Students at GJH have the opportunity to take CTE courses in Video Production as well as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) courses. During the spring semester of their 8th grade year, all students meet with a school counselor to develop a 4-year plan for high school to ensure they make the most of their high school years.

In Mrs. Fulmer’s Video Production class, students learn the fundamentals of Audio Krista Beal Principal Video media, including writing, filming, and editing. They apply their knowledge to a daily broadcast, S.P.O.T. On News.

“From script writing to stop motion, lighting, and sound, students get the basics of photography, animation, and video production to create engaging videos for our school,” Fulmer said. “No matter what knowledge they have coming into the class, they leave with the skills needed to successfully use sound and video equipment.”

Seventh-grade students in Mr. Jeff Koroly’s STEM classes take a semester of Medical Detectives, in which they learn about medical careers and have a chance to diagnose various hypothetical patients based on a pattern of presented symptoms all while using higher order thinking. The second semester is a course in Robotics, using a cutting-edge program designed by Project Lead the Way (PLTW). “PLTW has

DEDICATED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, COMPASSIONATE EDUCATORS

developed interactive, hands-on activities for students to complete, allowing our students to experience real life scenarios,” said Koroly. In Robotics classes, 7th and 8th grade students first code a mirco:bit controller, then use a VEX Robotics V5 kit to remotely control robotic cars and lifts. 8th grade STEM students also take a semester in Computer Science.

All students in 8th grade take Mrs. Baldwins’ Exploring Careers class, where

they discover vocational and higher

education opportunities and evaluate the relevance of technology as they develop skills for college and career readiness, lifelong learning, and daily living. Students gain an understanding of high school graduation requirements including endorsements and career pathways offered at GHS. Frequent guest speakers share their firsthand knowledge and real-world experiences with students to help them decide what career path may be right for them. ADVANCED ACADEMICS

The junior high offers advanced or honors courses in all academic areas, including four courses for which students can earn high school credit. These high school credit courses include two Pre-AP courses designed by the College Board to prepare students for taking an AP (Advanced Placement) course in high school. Eighth-grade students successfully completing Pre-AP Algebra I or Pre-AP English I take the End of Course (EOC) exam and receive high school credit for the course. There are 56 Pre-AP students taking Algebra I and 48 in Pre-AP English I.

Students who take Pre-AP Algebra I or Pre-AP English I not only receive high school course credit, but they are provided with opportunities to prepare for their futures with a college and career readiness program that includes preparing for college entrance exams such as the SAT. These students are specifically given opportunities to prepare for the PSAT test, which they begin taking in the 9th grade as Pre-AP students. “The areas of focus for the Pre-AP program include academic conversation, higher-order questioning, evidence-based writing and close observation and analysis,” said Deborah Coffey-Balderas, teacher for Pre-AP English I.

Additionally, Spanish I and II courses are available to 7th and 8th grade students, which also provide high school credit. Students who complete both Spanish I and II while still in junior high have fulfilled the foreign language graduation requirement before they even begin high school. Many students use this advantage to take Spanish III and IV while in high school, earning a foreign language endorsement on their diploma. This year, 120 GJH students are taking Spanish I and 40 are taking Spanish II. Hokkina “Kenny” Hong Assistant Principal

THE JUNIOR HIGH OFFERS ADVANCED OR HONORS COURSES IN ALL ACADEMIC AREAS